[iPAQ] Re: HOWTO PPP in ipaq3130 and WindowsME

From: David McNab <david.a.t.freenet.org.nz>
Date: Sat Feb 16 2002 - 20:12:45 EST

JML> Today my new ipaq3130 has arrived and I have install
JML> the main system, but I can't get beyond PPP install..
JML> I've installed bootblaster-bootloader-task bootserial
JML> form 0.5.1 but I can't do more than that.

JML> How can I (linux newbie) install ipkg packages?
JML> My ipaq is still in the cradle, could I take it off?
JML> I think I've read I mustn't turn it off, it's that
JML> true?
JML> I am using Tera Term for terminal emulator.. how could
JML> I stop it?

According to reports, nobody has had any luck getting a PPP link to
Familiar using Win2k - only confirmed success was with WinXP (someone
please advise if otherwise).

The only way I was able to get PPP working was to connect the ipaq to
my debian box. Before I did that, I ran a debian box within VMware
under win2k and it was ok as well.

Here is a simplified 'howto' that works for me:

1) Set up the following files:

/etc/passwd
   add new users if desired
   
/etc/group
   create new groups if desired

/etc/resolv.conf
   create this file if it isn't there
   add one or more DNS servers
   each line is in the form 'nameserver nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn'
    where nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn is an ip address

/etc/hosts
   change 'familiar' to your desired hostname, also add
   hostnames and IP addresses for other computers on your
   network

/etc/modules
   add the following lines:
      slhc
      ppp_generic
      ppp_async
   to the end of this file

/etc/hostname
   change to your desired hostname

/etc/ppp/options
   Add the following lines to the end
      defaultroute
      noauth
      192.168.n.n:192.168.m.m
   In the last line, the first IP address is the address you
   want to assign to the ipaq. The second one is the address
   you want to assign to the host. Note - in the same file
   on the host, these two ip addresses are reversed.

/etc/network/interfaces
   Add the following lines:
     iface ppp0 inet static
       address 192.168.1.3
       netmask 255.255.255.0
       gateway 192.168.1.1
   Change the 'address' and 'gateway' IP addresses to values
   appropriate for your network

/etc/ssh/ssh_host_key
   Create this as an empty file for now

2) Download to the ipaq the following files from one of the feeds at
http://familiar.handhelds.org/familiar/feeds/stable/packages/armv4l/
or
http://familiar.handhelds.org/familiar/feeds/unstable/packages/armv4l

  apmd_3.0final-1-fam2_arm.ipk
  h3600-utils_1.0_arm.ipk
  kernel-modules-2.4.7-rmk3-np1-devfs_hh13_arm.ipk
  ext2-modules-2.4.7-rmk3-np1-devfs_hh13_arm.ipk
  zlib1g_1.1.3-14_arm.ipk
  libwrap0_7.6-7_arm.ipk
  libssl0.9.6_0.9.6a-1_arm.ipk
  ssh_2.5.2p2-2-fam4_arm.ipk

Note - the command to instruct the ipaq to receive a file is:
  rz -bX filename
where 'filename' is the name of the package's file.

3) Using 'ipkg install <filename>', where <filename> is one of the above,
install each of those packages in the above order.

4) Then, get your linux desktop or vmware box set up as per directions.

Basically, this involves creating the following file in
/etc/ppp/peers/ipaq:

  -detach
  noauth
  nocrtscts
  lock
  user ppp
  connect '/usr/sbin/chat -v -t3 ogin--ogin: ppp'
  /dev/ttyS0
  defaultroute
  115200
  192.168.m.m:192.168.n.n

5) On that system, create a shell script in /usr/local/bin/ppp-ipaq:

  #!/bin/bash
  echo 1 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward
  while true
  do
    pppd start ipaq
    sleep 10
  done

  Make sure to do 'chmod 755 /usr/local/bin/ppp-ipaq'

That script will repeatedly try to connect to your ipaq. If your ipaq
reboots, or gets switched off, or cable is removed and reattached,
this script will reconnect automatically.

6) On your ipaq, type 'reboot'. Don't log in again, just plug the ipaq
serial cable into the box it'll be talking to.

7) On the peer box, run
    /usr/local/bin/ppp-ipaq &

If you've done everything right, you should see:

   Serial connection established.
   Using interface ppp0
   Connect: ppp0 <--> /dev/ttyS0
   Deflate (15) compression enabled
   not replacing existing default route to eth0 [192.168.1.1]
   found interface eth0 for proxy arp
   local IP address 192.168.n.n
   remote IP address 192.168.m.m

8) Configure all your computers' hosts files to know where your ipaq
is - this is a line '192.168.n.n ipaq' where 192.168.n.n is the IP
addresss you've assigned to the ipaq.

The location of this hosts file is:
Linux: /etc/hosts
Win95/98/ME: c:\Windows\hosts
Win2000/XT: c:\Winnt\system32\drivers\etc\hosts

9) On any of your systems, you should now be able to ssh into your
ipaq.

10) When you see the ipaq prompt, type 'ping handhelds.org' - you
should see ping replies, and this will tell you the ipaq is able to
connect out.

11) Ease some pain - type 'ipkg install bash'. Log out, then ssh back
in. This replaces the awful shell with bash, which allows backspace,
command recall, etc.

12) Make your own decision about where you want to go from here.
Do you want to run QPE (dumbed-down but attractive PDA software suite,
cut-down graphical interface)?
Do you want full-blown X? If so, simply type
  'ipkg install task-complete'.

13) To /etc/ipkg.conf, add source lines for your favourite feeds. A
list of feeds is at:
  http://www.handhelds.org/z/wiki/IpkgFeeds
Don't forget to type 'ipkg update' so these feeds will work.

14) A good trick for finding software is:
     ipkg list|grep -i keyword
where 'keyword' is a keyword you want to search for.

15) If you want, you can make you ipaq's filesystem avaiable for
mounting within windows. Just install samba-server, then in
/usr/local/samba/lib/smb.conf, change the 'readonly' flags to 'no'.
Then run /usr/local/samba/bin/samba-server.
Then, you'll be able to mount you ipaq's files from within windows.

16) In the meantime, don't forget to have a life :)

Cheers
David
Received on Sat Feb 16 17:12:21 2002

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